Tentative pact will let horses go to new homes

PORT CLINTON - A tussle between two animal-rescue groups over the fate of 36 rescued Arabian horses housed at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds appeared to come to a preliminary close yesterday.

Representatives for the Humane Society of Ottawa County and the Arabian Rescue Mission held negotiations by phone and drew up a tentative agreement on allowing the horses to go to homes selected by the Arabian Rescue Mission. Details of the agreement could not be confirmed.

The groups have been locked in a dispute over what to do with the horses, which were found starving and dehydrated two weeks ago, since their former owner, Robin Vess, signed possession of the animals over to the Arabian Rescue Mission on Feb. 3.

Tensions escalated yesterday morning after the Arabian Rescue Mission filed papers in federal court requesting an injunction to stop the Humane Society from "interfering" with their ownership of the horses.

In the request, the Arabian Rescue Mission claimed rightful ownership of the horses and estimated their value at $75,000. A statement by the organization's Ohio-based officer, Holly Simpson, criticized the Humane Society's handling of the rescue and care of the animals.

Humane Society rescuers seized the horses from a farm outside Oak Harbor on Jan. 29 after receiving what it said was an anonymous tip.

Since that time, Humane Society officers and volunteers have been caring for the horses at the fairgrounds, and their condition has improved.

Humane Society officer Nancy Silva, who was named in the injunction request, was angry at Ms. Simpson's accusations that the horses were not being well cared for.

"I don't know what she's talking about," Ms. Silva said in a phone interview. The horses "are clean, they're friendlier, they look healthier, and they're walked daily."

Volunteers for the Humane Society expressed similar sentiments.

The Humane Society had hoped to place the horses in foster care and had been compiling a list of potential homes.

The society's attorney, Chris Marcinko, had requested an order that the horses not be removed from the fairgrounds until after the trial of Ms. Vess on animal-cruelty charges, in order to preserve evidence. He rescinded that request yesterday, saying sufficient evidence had been obtained. Meanwhile, the Arabian Rescue Mission - a group based in Colesville, N.J., but with an officer in Ohio - has been acting on its own initiative to find permanent homes for the horses. Terry Figueroa, the group's president, said some of the homes are with prior breeders and owners of the rescued horses, and with people who have experience working with rescued Arabians.

"Arabians are very sensitive horses, and that's where having somebody with experience in that breed comes into play," Ms. Figueroa said. "That's why I thought it so important that the Arabian Rescue be involved."

Ms. Figueroa said most of the homes she found are in Michigan and Indiana, although some are farther away.

Shayna Roberts, an animal technician for the Humane Society who has been working with the horses, said she wanted the horses to remain in the area.

"Our community pulled together and gave the money and the feed for these horses," Ms. Roberts said. "Our community should be able to see them."

Also yesterday, Ms. Vess' attorney, Mark Davis, entered a "not guilty" plea on her behalf in Ottawa County Municipal Court to 42 charges of animal cruelty. He said Ms. Vess was unable to attend the court hearing because she had checked into a hospital at an undisclosed location. He said she is suffering from severe depression following the deaths of relatives and the removal of the horses.

Contact Claudia Boyd-Barrett at:

cbarrett@theblade.com

or 419-724-6507.